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CTECareer and Technical Education (CTE)

Career and Technical Education prepares Montana K-12 students for a wide range of careers and post secondary education programs. Career and Technical Education courses are found in Montana's middle schools, high schools and career centers.

Career and Technical Education courses provide students with life and employment skills to make them highly desirable employees in today's modern workforce. Skills learned in K-12 Career and Technical Education courses prepare students to go directly into the workforce or to continue their education with a much higher degree of focus and direction for their career goals.

Montana has over 500 approved Career and Technical Education programs and over 800 certified teachers in Agriculture, Business, Marketing, Family and Consumer Sciences, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences. More than 150 Montana high schools participate in the federal Carl D. Perkins and state Career and Technical Education grant programs to support and improve their Career and Technical Education programs.

Television coverage of some of Montana's CTE programs that receive Perkins support:
High School houses dedicated
Kids get ready for HOSA nationals
First National Career Readiness Certificates awarded at Great Falls community ceremony

Montana CTSO Chapters

Montana has 275 nationally affiliated career and technical student organization (CTSO) chapters with nearly 6000 student members. All these links open a new page

  • BPA - Business Professionals of America
  • DECA - An association of marketing students
  • FCCLA - Family, Career and Community Leaders of America
  • FFA - An association of agriculture students
  • HOSA - Health Occupations Students of America
  • Montana FFA
  • SkillsUSA
  • TSA - Technology Student Association

 

 

Agriculture Education

Agricultural Education is a sequential set of course offerings for students in grades 7-12. The program is designed to develop knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experiences in and about agriculture. Ag Ed prepares students for further education, self-employment, entry-level jobs, and consumer awareness in the agriculture industry. Vocational Agriculture, as it was formerly called, was started in Montana in 1917 with the passing of the federal Smith-Hughes Vocational Act. Curriculums in Ag Ed may contain: Ag Business, Animal Science, Aquaculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Leadership, Mechanics, Natural Resources, Plant Science, and Wildlife Management. Most programs consist of three major components: classroom and laboratory instruction, supervised agricultural experiences (SAE) and membership in the FFA. Quality programs are conducted on a year-round basis with students actively engaged in educational activities over the summer months.

2010-2011 Montana Ag Ed Programs by FFA Districts
Big Muddy
Eastern
Glacier
Judith Basin
Bainville
Circle
Culbertson
Fairview
Hinsdale
Lambert
Medicine Lake
Missouri Valley (Wolf Point)*
Opheim
Plentywood
Richey
Savage
Sidney
Baker
Broadus
Carter County (Ekalaka)
Custer County (Miles City)
Jordan
Plevna
Wibaux
Browning
Cascade *
Choteau
C.M. Russell (Great Falls)
Conrad
Dutton
Fairfield
Shelby
Simms
Big Sandy
Chinook
Denton
Fergus of Lewistown
Geraldine
Hobson
Judith Gap
Malta
Moore
Roy
Harlem
Stanford
Winifred
Southeastern
Southern
Southwestern
Western
Big Horn (Hardin) *
Colstrip
Custer
Forsyth
Huntley Project (Worden) *
Hysham
Morning Star (Lame Deer)
Little Big Horn (Lodge Grass)
Melstone
Rosebud
Roundup
Shepherd
Belfry
Clark's Fork (Bridger)
Columbus
Fromberg
Joliet
Laurel
Park City
Red Lodge
Roberts
Stillwater Valley (Absarokee)
Urban Ag (Billings) *
Belgrade
Big Timber *
Lavina
Park (Livingston)
Ruby Valley (Sheridan)
Ryegate
Shields Valley (Clyde Park)
Wheatland (Harlowton)
Beaverhead (Dillon)
Darby
Deer Lodge
Drummond
Flathead (Kalispell) *
Lima
Mission Valley (Ronan)
Missoula *
Stevensville
*   multiple teachers

 

Student Group - FFA

FFA Emblem FFA is a Montana youth organization that makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

 

Name, Office, Chapter, Email

Home Address

College Address

Lane Nordlund, President
Fergus FFA Chapter
ffalanen@yahoo.com

Larry & Shonny Nordlund
974 Castle Butte Rd.
Lewistown, MT  59457
406.538.7153
406.366.3187 (cell)

406.366.2749 – Cell

Laura Frazee, 1st V P
Stevensville FFA Chapter
ffalauraf@yahoo.com

Steve & Linda Kauffman
661 S. Burnt Fork Rd.
Stevensville, MT 59870
406.777.4276
406.363.8844 (cell)

406.239.0703 – Cell

Jayleen Harris, 2nd V P
Conrad FFA Chapter
ffajayleenh@yahoo.com

Charlene Bouma & Kim Harris
305 S. Dakota
Conrad, MT  59425
406.278.7139
406.788.2893 (cell)

406.788.9658 - Cell

Sarah Snow, Secretary
Park City FFA Chapter
ffasarahs@yahoo.com

Mark & Nita Snow
917 12th Ave.
Laurel, MT  59044
406.633.2376
406.860.0086 or 0148 (cell)

406.696.0402 - Cell

Brooke Cather, Treasurer
Missoula FFA Chapter
ffabrookec@yahoo.com

Shawn & Kristi Cather
P.O. Box 653
Lolo, MT  59847
406.273.0554


406.370.0554
406.546.4371 – Cell

Kristen Scott, Reporter
Shields Valley FFA Chapter
ffakristens@yahoo.com

Don & Lori Scott
P.O. Box 128
Clyde Park, MT  59018
406.686.4489
406.600.1048 (cell)

406.640.1053 - Cell

Mick Mosher, Sentinel
Shepherd FFA Chapter
ffamickm@yahoo.com

Jeff & Laurie Mosher
6410 Frey Rd., Shepherd MT 59078
406.373.5961
406.670.2778 (cell)  

406.670.7581 – Cell

Cody Donaugh, Parliamentarian
Park City FFA Chapter
ffacodyd@yahoo.com

Doug & Wendy Donaugh
2001 Mohr Lane
Park City, MT  59063
406.633.2953 406.850.0893 or 690.2429 (cells)

dwdonaugh@yahoo.com  

406.850.0486 - Cell

Bill Jimmerson
State Advisor
Montana FFA Association
Bozeman
ffa@montana.edu

2390 E. Cameron Bridge Rd.
Bozeman, MT  59718
406.388.7377 (H)
406.600.6579 (cell)

207 Linfield Hall
PO Box 172855
Bozeman MT 59717-2855
Phone:  406.994-7050
Fax: 406.994-7210

Ramey Lunceford
Montana FFA Foundation
Bozeman
foundation@montanaffa.org

406.582.4118 (office)
406.369.1617 (cell)
406.587.0319 (FAX)

Montana FFA Foundation
502 South 19th  Suite 110
Bozeman MT   59718

Dr. Brad King
Agriculture Education Specialist
Office of Public Instruction
PO Box 202501
Helena, MT  59620-2501
bking2@mt.gov

Helena MT   59604

Office of Public Instruction
PO Box 202501
Helena MT   59620-2501
Phone:  406.444.4451
FAX: 406.444.1373

 

Big Sky Pathways

Business and Marketing Education

There are in excess of 165 Business and Marketing Education programs and 280 teachers in the public high schools of Montana. These programs and teachers are dedicated to the preparation of students for a world-class workforce. Through communication, professional development, and coordination of talent, a determined effort is under way to make Montana a great place for students to meet their career goals and for employers to be confident in the relevance of skills being taught and learned.

A showcase for Business and Marketing Education Programs are our Career and Technical Student Organizations. These organizations are Business Professionals of America and DECA. CTSOs provide students with soft skills (leadership, character, and community service competencies), as well as competitive events that build on sound content and skill development.

In Accomplishing the Objectives, Business Education Seeks to:
  • Strengthen the basic skills—listening, speaking, and writing and computing, problem-solving, and computer-related
  • Strengthen each individual’s self-concept and desire to succeed
  • Formulate plans to ensure continued educational growth, whether it be formal or informal

 

Objectives of Business Education:
  • Provide occupational competence which enables an individual to procure a job for which he or she is qualified and to formulate and implement a career development plan which is responsive to personal and technological changes
  • Develop positive interpersonal and leadership skills
  • Develop economic competence to enable the individual to be a productive citizen and wise consumer of resources, goods, and services

Data Collections

2011-12 CTE Student Participation Reports On-line LINK NOW AVAILABLE

Fall CTE Data Collection
2011-12 Quick Reference Guide for Fall CTE Data Collection
The Fall CTE data collection is a follow-up to last year’s Spring CTE data collection. Students identified as CTE Concentrators who graduated in the 2010-11 school year must be contacted between October 1 and December 31, 2011 and have their current post-graduation status identified.

Technical Assistance Help—Making Follow-up Calls

Family & Consumer Sciences

Information to be provided

Health Occupations

Health Occupations Education

Montana's Health Science Technology Education- Building a Pipeline of Future Healthcare Professionals

Montana's newest Career & Technology Education offering is health sciences. The Health Science Career Cluster prepares students for further education and/or immediate employment in the healthcare field.  Health Science majors include:

  • Therapeutic Services
  • Diagnostic Services
  • Health Informatics
  • Support Services
  • Biotechnology & Research Development

The foundation of our Health Science Program is to teach essential knowledge and skills needed by healthcare providers based on the National Healthcare Skills Standards; to address the individual needs of our students and post-secondary education requirements; to promote leadership, community service and scholarship, while developing community resources and healthcare partners.

Sample Course Offerings include:

  • Introduction to Health Science
  • Medical Terminology
  • Certified Nurse Aide
  • Sports Medicine
  • Emergency Medical Services

Additional Information:

 

Industrial Trades & Technology Education

Information to be provided

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math - STEM

"STEM" is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and refers to the physical, biological, and agricultural sciences; computer and information sciences; engineering and engineering technologies; and mathematics. The reason there is so much conversation about STEM is because estimates show "about five million people work directly in science, engineering, and technology— just over 4 percent of the workforce. This relatively small group of workers is considered to be critical to economic innovation and productivity. Workers in science and engineering fields tend to be well paid and enjoy better job security than do other workers. Workforce projections for 2018 by the U.S. Department of Labor show that nine of the10 fastest-growing occupations that require at least a bachelor's degree will require significant scientific or mathematical training" (Why so Few? retrieved April 5, 2010).

There is growing concern that the United States is not preparing a sufficient number of students, teachers, and professionals in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Although the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results show improvement in U.S. pupils' knowledge of math and science, the large majority of students still fail to reach adequate levels of proficiency. When compared to other nations, the achievement of U.S. pupils appears inconsistent with the nation's role as a world leader in scientific innovation.
(CRS Report for Congress retrieved April 5, 2010)

The U.S also has a striking disparity between the numbers of men and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. "The classical formulation of this idea is that men "naturally" excel in mathematically demanding disciplines, whereas women "naturally" excel in fields using language skills. Yet, recent gains in girls' mathematical achievement demonstrate the importance of culture and learning environments in the cultivation of abilities and interests" (Why so Few?).

To diversify the STEM fields we must take a hard look at the stereotypes and biases that still pervade our culture. Encouraging more girls and women to enter these vital fields will require careful attention to the environment in our classrooms and workplaces and throughout our culture. The accompanying VIDEO highlights five Montana women who embraced this challenge.

An NTO, or non-traditional occupation, is any occupation where 25% or less of one gender is represented in that occupation. We now have the tools to mediate these discrepancies by providing students, teachers, parents and employers with information and resources.

Start by exposing students to alternative careers and other professional options. Your influence and ability to help a student make life-altering decisions is profound! As a teacher, parent or counselor, you are faced with the daunting task of preparing students for tomorrow. Fortunately, there are a many resources and curriculum packages to which you have access. If you are unsure whether this information is even relevant to you, take these simple self-administered surveys as the hidden biases operating within our lives are usually hidden to us as well.
(Assessing Your Biases via that Harvard Implicit Website, look under Gender IAT's).

Finally, you do NOT have to re-invent the wheel of successful exercises exposing the greatness of NTO's and STEM careers. There are a multitude of resources at your fingertips; the trick is to choose the one that best fits your own curriculum style. New Look Online Self-Study

Talk to your student about her/his interests. Sometimes it is as easy as encouraging simple pleasures (a fascination with speed can lead to a path of designing aerodynamic cars). The support you give your student in the form of encouraging thinking, exploration, and the pursuit of knowledge is a concrete plan in a world where the most appropriate job for your students' likes/abilities might not even exist yet! Our great big Montana sky is the limit!

The following resources provide additional information regarding STEM and non-traditional occupations:

Contact: Renee Harris, 406.444.2059

 Map of Montana FCCLA Districts

Other Helpful Links and Resources

Student Group - FCCLA

The mission of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) organization is to promote personal growth and leadership development through family and consumer sciences education.

FCCLA Montana

Contact Us: Career and Technical Education Staff Directory

T.J. Eyer, Division Administrator 406.444.7915

Secondary Division

Brad King, Agriculture Education Specialist 406.444.4451
Eric Swenson, Business Education Specialist 406.444.7991
Megan Anderson, Family & Consumer Sciences Education Specialist 406.444.3599
Bill Jimmerson, FFA Program Manager 406.994.7050
Renee Harris, Health Sciences Education. Specialist 406.444.2059
Don Michalsky, Industrial, Trades & Tech. Education. Specialist 406.444.4452
Diana Fiedler, Perkins Accountability Specialist 406.444.9019
Mary Ann Gregory, Administrative Specialist 406.444.9076
Steve York, Assistant Superintendent 406.444.4434